Envelope-opening machine



Oet. 27 1925 '.l. v. wAsHBuRNE ENYELOPE OIENING MACHINE med oct. 1s, 1920 @m k s. /wm/ m 5 ,Q @5 N A i l w+ my) lo 1 MME gul w w IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 27, 1925- J. v. wAsHauRNE ENVELOPE OPENING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .parts in all the views.

the left in Fig. 1.

.i037 supporting a Patented Oct. v27, 1925.

UNITED STATES f 1,559,020 PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES v. wasnmmivii, or sYaAUsE, NEW Yoan.

ENvELorE-OPENING MAGHNE.

Application tiled October 13,;1920. Serial No. 416,665. ,l

vthe shear plate and alsoparticularly simple and eiiicientmeans for supporting the lubrieating and compression rolls. The invention consists in the novel features-and in the combinations and constructionsV hereinafter set forth and claimed. f

In describing this invention, reference, is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters Y designate corresponding Figure 1 is a plan view of my envelope opening machine, vthe housing for the lubricating tool being omitted.y

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof, the housing for the lubricating roll being shown in section and also the housing for the spring which actuates the cutter roll in one direction being also shown .in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of'this machine, the housing for the spring of the cutter being omitted. i v- Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view von iin@ 4-4, Fig. 2:

Figure 5 is a sectional View on line 5 5, Fig. 2. f Figure 6 is an end elevation lookingto This envelope opening machine comprises, generally, ar base Vwhich is elongated in general form 'and formed' with uprights near-its-ends, and an upright intermediate of itsk ends, a cutter movable about. an axis and having axles Yiournaled in iiprights on the base, a shear vplate mounted on the first ymentioned uprights and mi the intermediate f `the shear plate in position and also for adjusting it toward and from thecutter, rand means mounted on the axles of the cutter compression roll. features may however, be omitted.

1 designates the base which may beof any suitable form, size and construction, it'betendinginwardly from-the rear sidethereof forhol'ding a receptacle 2lwhich receives the clippings, thisrecess making the base elongated -U-shaped so that'it has end portions 3 and yfront transverse bar 4 connect-k ing the ends 3.

5 are uprightsrising from the front portions tof the base and spaced apart thereon. 6 is the intermediate .upright rising from the portion 4. 7 is a cutter here shown as cylindrical and Ahaving axles 8 journaled in-.uprights 9 kand 10 risingl from` the rear ends ofthe endportions 3of the base.

' llie cutter here shown is of the form shown in .my Patent No. 1,265,844 issued May 14, 1918, but inso far as this invention is concerned,.may be of any suitable form, size and construction. l i

11 is thev shear plate mounted on the uprights y5 and 6 and resting at its ends on the uprights 5 and being unattached thereto and also restingonl the intermediate upright 6Y adjustably secured thereto. The

shear plateas here shown is secured to the v vintermediate upright by means of a "block 12 located in a vertical slot 13 formed in a Vrearwardly .extending portion.' of the upright 6 which portion overhangs the receptacle 2 the, slot :opening'through upper and lower faces of the extension and also kthrough the rear face'thereof,'the'block 12 Some of the foregoing ving here shown as formedwith a recess ex# having shoulders 14 at its lower venol engaging the under side of lthe overhanging portion of the upright .6 on opposite sides of the block'.v along the islot'land holding it inits adjusted. position. The' clamping V means as here kshown comprises a screw 15 extending through the shear plate from the upper side thereof and'tli'reading .,infthe block 12; and the-*means for holding or determining the position ofthe block along the slot 13 and hence they position of the shear plate relatively tothecutter, as 'here ing in the intermediate upright, that is, in the front sidefthereof and thrusting against the block 13. Thus by loosening both screws 15, 16 thel shear plate can be moved toward illustrated, comprises a set screw V16 threadf' lubricating -roll and 'ya or 1fronii 4the cutter and when in its adjusted i position the screw tightened and the screw 16 turned inwardly until it abuts against the block to prevent sliding thereof and of the shear plate away from the cutter. Springs 17 are usually attached to the ends of the shear plate and to the frame and tend to pull the plate towardthe cutter.

18 and 19 designate respectively, a lubrieating roll cooperating with the cutter 7 and a compression roll overlying the shear plate, these rolls are here illustrated as having axles20, 21 at their ends, the axles 2O of the hlubricating roll being journaled in upwardly extending arms 22 of brackets 23 pivotally mounted on Vthe axles 7 of the cutter adjacent the ends of the cutter and the axles '21 of the/compression roll 1-9 journaled in forwardly extending arms 24: of said brackets, said arms 24 lying on the shear plate andfhaving extensions '25 extend-ing in front ofthe roll and constituting guides for th'e'envelope being passed between the shear plate and the roll to the cutter.

These extensions have inwardly extending portions #extending in front ofv the 4 ends o'f th'e rollers 'and outwardly extending `ends 27 arranged to engage the end edges of' the envelope.` Y d 2S i'suahousing enclosing the lubricating roll and resting 'on the brackets, this housing having 'end walls 29 formed with openings as slots 3,0 which receive the 'axles 2O of the lubricating roll, said Aend walls lying outside fof the upwardly extending 'armsv`22 of 'the brackets The. housing is also formed with a shield 31 on the rear `side thereof enclosing'the rear portion of the cutter 7 'and resting at, its ends on the brackets 22. Owing to the arrangement fof the housing itis readily removable for the purpose of applying a lubricant to the lubri- `eating roll 18, it being ytui-"dersto'od that this roll rests lon the periphery of the cutter 7.

T he cutter?v is moved 'about its axis in one direction by suitable handle 32 mounted on one of 'the axles Y7, of the cutter; and in the other direction by a spring lcormected at one end to the Aother axle ofthe cutter,

and at its other Yend to ,the frame. This spring is enclosed in a; suitable liousii'ig '34.

fn operation, the shear plate is adjusted by loosening the screws 15 and land sliding the' shear plate 'and block l2 to, lthe de- 'sired'4 positien relatively to the `cutter 7 and the 'screws agaii'itightened.

The envelope to be opened b y having one edge thereof clipped oil" is laid on the shear plate 11 and passedl under the compression roller untilthe edge to be clipped on? is against -the cutter.

The brackets 2'2 are movable about the axles 8` of the cutter "as the compression roll is liftedbyy the envelope. The handle '32 is then pulledl `outwardly afgai'ns't the actie-1 1 the spring as causing the l@eater te clip off the edge of the' envelope and during this operation the lubricating roll is turned about its axis.

This envelope opening machine is particularly advantageous in that it consists of few parts which are so constructed and arranged sothat the machine is particularly economical in manufacture.

What I claim is:

1. An envelope opening machine comprising a base formedy with uprights, a rotary cutter having axles journaled in the uprights, a shear plate mounted on the base in front of the cutter, a pair of arms mounted on the axles of the cutter and extending forwardly therefrom, and a roller having axles at its ends journaled in said arms, the roller resting on the shear plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. An envelope opening machine comprising abase formed with uprights,'a rotary cutter havingaxles journal-ed in the uprights, a shear plate mounted on the base in front of the cutter, a pair of arms mounted on the axles of the cutter and extending forwardly therefrom, and aroller arranged above the shear plate and vhaving axles at its ends journaled in said arms,vsaid arms having extensions located? in front of the roller to form guides for the envelope, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. An envelope opening machine comprisingV a base formed' with uprigh'ts, a rotary 'cylinder cutter having axles 'journaled in the uprights, a shear plate mounted. 'on the base in front ofthe cutter, a pair of arms mounted on the axles of the ycutter and extending forwardly therefrom, and 'a roller overlying the Lshear plateY and having axles at it-s ends journaled in said arms, said arms having inwardly offset extensions located in `'front of the roller, and having forwardly bent ends constituting guides in front of the vroller for the envelope, 'substantially as and for the purpose set forth..

'4. An envelope opening machine 'compris- 'ing a base formed with spaced apart uprights, a rotary cutter having axles journaled in the uprights, a .shear plate mounted on the base infront ofV the cutter, a pair of brackets mounted on the :axles of the roller 'and having upwardly extending arms and a lubricating roll' for the cutters having axles journal'ed in said upwardly extending of the brackets, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

5. An- 'envelop'e opening machine comprising a base formed with spaced apart upri'ghts, a cylindrical' cutter havin-'g 'axles journaled inthe uprghts, a shear plate mounted on 'the basein front of the cutter, brackets mounted on the axles 'of the 'cutter and having' upwardly extendingv arms and also forwardly extending arms extending in front of the cutter, la lubricating roll hav.-

ing axles journaled in the upwardly extending arms and a compression device overlying the shear plate' and supported at its ends by the forwardly extending arms, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 6. An envelope opening machine comprising a base formed with spaced apart uprights, a cylindrical cutter p having axles journaled in the uprights, a shear pla-te mounted on the base in front of the cutter, brackets mounted on the axles of the cutter and having upwardly extending arms and also forwardly extending arms extending in front of the cutter and overlying the shear plate, a lubricating device supported at its ends by the upwardly extending arms and a compression device overlying the shear plate and supported by the forwardly extending arms, the forwardly extending arms having extensions in front of the compression device, and constituting guides for the envelope, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. An envelope opening machine comprising a base having uprights, a cutter movable about an axis and having axles journaled in the uprights, the lubricating device having axles at its ends, means for supporting the axles of said roll, and a casing enclosing the roll and having openings Vin its end walls for receiving the axles of the lubricating device, substantially as and for the purpose described. 4

8. An envelope opening machine comprising a base having uprights, a cutter movable about an axis and having axles at its ends ournaled in the uprights, alubricating device arranged above the cutter and having axles at its ends, brackets located at the opposite ends of the cutter and having upwardly extending armsformed with openings for the axles, and a housing for the lubricating device having slots in its end walls for receiving the axles of the lubricating device, the housing resting on the brackets, substantially as and for the pur-V pose specified.

9. An envelope opening machine comprising a base having uprights, a cutter movable about an axis and having axles at its ends journaled in the uprights, a lubricating device arranged above the cutter and having axles at its ends, brackets located at its opposite ends of the cutter and having upwardly extending arms formed with openings for the axles, a housing for the lubricating device having slots in its end walls for receiving the axles of the lubricating device. the housing resting on the brackets, and having a shield on the rear side thereof enclosing the rear portion of the cutter, substantially as and for the pur.- pose set forth.

10. An envelopeopening machine comprising a base formed with uprights, a cutter movable about an axis and having axles journaled in the uprights, a lubricating device supported abovethe cutter and having axles Vat its ends, supports for the axles, and a housing for the lubricating device mounted on the supports and having a shield on the rear side thereof enclosing the rear portion of the cutter, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. An envelope opening machine comprising a base formed with uprights, al cutter movable about an axis having axles journaled in the uprights, a shear plate mounted y on the base in front' of the cutter, brackets mounted on the axles of the cutter, and having upwardly extending arms and forwardly extending arms overlying the shear plate, a lubricating device having axles supported at its ends by the upwardly extending arms, a compression device supported at .its ends by the forwardly extending arms, a housing enclosing the lubricating device, and a housing for the lubricating device, the housing having a rearwardly extending shield enclosing the rear portion of the cutter, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this th day of October. 1920. l

JAMES V. VVASHBURNE.. 

